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I love the book of Ruth for many reasons. The biggest reason is what God did in her life. Ruth was a foreigner and an outsider to the one true God, yet she was a woman who opened her heart and will to Him.  She got to know Him personally. I think that makes her a wise woman for sure.

As we end our series, 14 Ways A Wise Woman Builds Her House, let’s take a look back at what sets this woman apart from the foolish one. The Wise Woman:

• knows her worth in Christ
• builds her house on prayer
• unleashes her creativity
• trains her children to love and serve God
• loves and celebrates her husband
• reflects characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman
• is her husband’s crown
• is industrious
• is clothed with strength and dignity
• is not afraid of the future
• opens her mouth with wisdom
• teaches kindness by example
• doesn’t have a lazy bone in her body

Wow, that’s some list, isn’t it? Hopefully you’ve been both challenged and encouraged to build your house as a wise woman.  Let’s look at our last few verses: Proverbs 31:28-31.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women have done excellently,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,

    and let her works praise her in the gates.

These verses sum up what I call graduation day. The virtuous woman has been an excellent woman, wife and mother. NOW, she gets her just reward. Notice that her children and husband rise up and call her blessed. She is now being honored by those who know her best. Her family. Her testimony is authenticated by those who are closer to her. Who are you when the outside world is not watching? Do you act the same way inside your home as you do with your friends? At Bible study? At work? At church? Well, this woman’s life was consistent. Now she was being praised and blessed because of that.

Notice that they rose up. Rising up is very deliberate. It’s a way of indicating something important is about to happen and/or it indicates that someone important is entering your presence. As prominent as her husband was in the city gates, he gives her a glowing review as his noble/excellent wife. Her children blessed her for being a mother that rose above the rest. Charm and beauty could not withstand the test of time and certainly could not produce the qualities that the fear of the LORD produced in her life. As we all know, physical appearance changes with time. Wisdom is what lasts. Wisdom is infinitely more valuable especially in God’s eyes.

Fear of the LORD, the Word of God says, is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10).  This woman feared God. Are you a God-fearing woman? Would your family describe you in that way? This woman is praised by a grateful husband. Her works are also praised in the gates (the city gate).  The city gate was the place of business dealings, legal transactions and social meetings. Her husband was known there. Good works shouted her praise, not the applause from people.  An excellent wife shall receive the work of her hands if the fear of the LORD has been the root from which that fruit has grown.

Let’s revisit Ruth as I end. Did you know Ruth was described like this? Listen to what Boaz said to her: “I will do for you whatever you ask, for all my people in the city know that you are a woman of excellence.” That’s how I want to be known: as an excellent and wise woman who builds her house on no other foundation than Jesus Christ, The Chief Cornerstone. I hope you do, too.

+First Look—Read Proverbs 31:28:31 and Ruth 3:11.

+Through The Looking Glass—How would you answer the questions sprinkled throughout this blog? How would others answer these questions about you?